Zimbabwe Action Group

STRANGERS INTO CITIZENS CALL BY CHURCH LEADERS,CITIZENS & MPs FOR ZIMBABWEAN EXILES TO BE ALLOWED TO WORK & ACQUIRE SKILLS--Friday 11 July 2008 by Thando Sibanda

As a follow-up to the announcement by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on Thursday 10 July that there would be no forced return of failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers, Friday 11 July 2008 was a momentous day for the Zimbabwean community in the UK. With crowds estimated at 1000, the day’s proceedings began in St Margaret’s Church at Westminster Abbey at noon. The service entitled ‘Restore Zimbabwe-A Service of Prayer for the people of Zimbabwe’ was very emotionally charged as hundreds countrymen and women whose lives have been halted by the asylum situation here in the UK. Unknown to most present, sitting discreetly next to one of the church pillars was the Minister for Africa, Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, who was probably the most influential member of the congregation. The service climaxed when the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu addressed the congregation and made a strong appeal to the UK government to give Zimbabweans the right to work and better themselves through training.

The service was followed by a rally entitled “Free UK Zimbabweans from Limbo” where speakers (including Dr Sentamu) reiterated the requests for the UK Government to take the next step of allowing Zimbabweans to work and access training and educational facilities. The rally was also addressed by the Deputy General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union and Treasurer of the Labour Party, Jack Dromey who happens to be married to The Right Honourable Harriet Harman MP who is Deputy Leader and Party Chair of the Labour Party, and Leader of the House of Commons. Mr. Dromey stressed that the government should do more to assist Zimbabweans, who are in stuck in a deadlock. The rally also presented a media opportunity and many Zimbabweans including ZAG members got the chance to tell their stories to the rest of the UK and the world at large.

Carrying ‘Strangers into Citizens’ banners and placards, and Zimbabwean flags, the crowd then marched to the sound of Zimbabwean songs and chants towards the Home Office HQ where a letter asking for the right to work and access training was delivered. The march continued and the crowd swelled as the procession moved along the South Bank then back towards the Houses of Parliament.

This was probably the biggest show of solidarity by Zimbabweans and the most high profile event in since the plight of Zimbabwean failed asylum seekers in the UK first came to light and I would like to thank all our members who attended and supported this event.

Following the march there has been no response from the Home Office. There has been progress in the Zimbabwe situation of late and this may influence the awaited response from the Home Office.

News Story

06 July 2008 22:45 BST

Tesco ceases trade with Zimbabwe

Tuesday, 01 Jul 2008 11:04

Tesco has ceased trading with Zimbabwe as the political crisis in the country continues in a U-turn for the retailer.

Last week, Tesco said it would be "irresponsible" to cut farmers off, but today said it would stop buying produce from the nation.

Tesco bought produce worth £1 million annually from Zimbabwe, but had been criticised for selling food from a country whose people are starving under Robert Mugabe's regime.

Among other goods, Tesco sold sugar snap peas and fine beans from Zimbabwe.

A Tesco spokesperson said the decision was a "difficult one".

"We have to date sought to balance wider political considerations against a desire to support our suppliers in Zimbabwe and enable them to support the workers who depend on that trade for their livelihoods.

"However, we cannot ignore the escalating political crisis in Zimbabwe, and the growing consensus in the international community - including from UK politicians on all sides - that further action must be taken to maximise the pressure for change."

Tesco said it would look at other ways to support workers there and would make it a "very high priority to ensuring that this decision does least harm to the workers and their dependents who have supplied us from Zimbabwe".

However, a spokesperson from Zimbabwe Action Group condemned the move.

Robert Gonouya said: "I understand from a market standpoint, given the pariah status the nation has attained, but if one looks at this closely people are suffering."

He said the move by Tesco to stop buying from Zimbabwean farmers "hurts those who are already hurting".

"I think Tesco should have made a stand on this as they did last week.

"I don't think this does anything to change the political situation."

The group said it would only welcome such actions if they denied those in power and their relatives income such as that derived from dealing with Tesco without hurting the long suffering public.

The decision comes as firms are put under pressure to cut ties with the regime, after the recent run-off presidential election ended with the sole candidate, president Mugabe, declaring victory.

The election has been widely condemned and the UN said it was "disappointed" with the situation, denouncing the poll as neither "free nor fair".

Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch Brown recently told UK firms that they would find it harder to operate there as sanctions tightened.

Changes to the Immigration Rules

General Grounds for Refusal

1. This note has been written for an eventheld by Praxis on Saturday, 17^th May 2008, attended by ZAG's webmster, Thando Sibanda.

Introduction:

2. On 6^th February 2008, the Government published changes to the Immigration Rules. These changes included two changes to the general grounds for refusal in the rules (i.e. reasons for refusal that apply to most immigration applications, including applications to come or stay in the UK in order to study, work, visit or join family). The changes meant that:

· An application would be refused if it included any false statement or false document.

· Anyone who breached certain immigration laws would be banned from returning to the UK for a fixed period of time (a “re-entry ban”).

3. There was no consultation on these changes; and ILPA, lawyers and others had no warning of their introduction.

4. Following the publication of these changes, ILPA and others have worked hard to change the Government’s mind. ILPA has written to the Minister for Borders and Immigration (Liam Byrne MP) on two occasions, met with the UK Border Agency, provided several briefings (some available on our website) and lobbied hard for the changes to be reversed. We have had considerable success.

5. There have been two debates in Parliament on these changes. The first debate took place in the House of Lords on 17^th March 2008. The second debate took place in the House of Commons on 13^th May 2008. In both debates, the Government announced important concessions. The Minister also wrote to ILPA on 4^th April 2008. His letter includes important statements that make clear further limitations on the extent of these changes.

False statements and false documents:

6. The first of the two changes was to require the refusal of an application to come to or stay in the UK if the application included any false statement or false document. This change came into force on 29^th February 2008.

7. The application must be refused in these circumstances. It does not matter that the applicant did not know that a statement or document was false. It does not matter that the statement or document was included in the application without the applicant’s knowledge. It does not matter that the statement or document is irrelevant to the application. An application must also be refused if any relevant information has been omitted.

8. It is important to note what is said in the Minister’s letter to ILPA of 4^th April 2008:

“The new Rules are intended to cover people who tell lies – either on their own behalf or that of someone else – in an application to the UK Border Agency. They are not intended to catch those who make innocent mistakes in their applications.”

9. This change does not apply to applications for asylum, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave. However, it is important to note that any dishonesty in an application for asylum, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave may still lead to the application being refused. Making a false statement or submitting a false document is something that may well be relied upon by the Home Office as a reason to disbelieve what an asylum-seeker says.

Re-entry bans:

10. The second of the two changes was to introduce bans on returning to the UK for those who had breached certain immigration laws. This change came into force on 1^st April 2008.

11. The bans apply to people who have:

· Overstayed

· Breached a condition of leave to enter or remain

· Entered the UK illegally

· Used deception in a previous application

12. The changes mean that people who have breached immigration law in these ways will face the longer of any of the following bans that apply to their circumstances:

· 1 year from the time they left the UK voluntarily and at their own expense

· 5 years from the time they left the UK voluntarily but at some expense to the UK

· 10 years from the time they were removed or deported from the UK

· 10 years from the time they used deception in an entry clearance application

13. The effect of a ban means that any application to return to the UK will be refused if the ban remains in place. However, following concessions made by the Government, there are now a number of exceptions to this:

Voluntary departure within 28 days of overstaying:

14. The changes included one exception. If someone overstays for no more than 28 days and leaves voluntarily at their own expense, no ban would be imposed.

Human Rights reasons:

15. If it would be contrary to human rights to refuse an application to return to the UK, it must be allowed – regardless of any ban. This is expressly recognised in the Entry Clearance Guidance (Chapter 26).

Time limited concession for those who leave the UK voluntarily:

16. On 17^th March 2008, the Government announced a concession in the House of Lords. This concession means that anyone who was in the UK on that date (without leave to enter or remain) will not face a ban if they leave the UK voluntarily before 1^st October 2008.